Technology

Nintendo's alarm clock does less than we want it to for more than we want to pay. You might want to buy one anyway.

Lomography has unveiled a new addition to its range of instant cameras, dubbing the Lomo Instant Wide Glass the 'world's best instant camera'. That's a bold claim when the market has otherwise been dominated by Polaroid and Fujifilm Instax – so do instant photography lovers finally have a viable alternative?

It seems as though the best instant camera claims are based on the quality of the Wide Glass's lens: a 90mm multi-coated glass lens, with 35mm effective focal length and minimum focus distance of just 0.3m. It's a lens that Lomography says is the sharpest in any instant camera. That really does sound like some serious glass, especially when you compare it to the simpler optics of, say, the Fujifilm Instax Wide 400.

Like the Instax Wide 400, the Lomo Instant Wide Glass shoots onto the readily available and reasonably priced Instax Wide film. Film size aside, the Glass Wide has more in common with the Polaroid I-2 and the Fujifilm Instax mini 99, being more of a photographer's tool with plenty of shooting modes and manual control to sink your teeth into.

The Lomo Instant Wide Glass costs $279 / £249 and shipping starts in November (international shipping is available but bear with us for Australia pricing). Fujifilm Instax Wide film costs around $24.90 / £21.90 for a twin 10-sheet pack – that's 20 shots in all.

(Image credit: Lomography) A photographer's instant camera

The Lomo Instant Wide Glass looks the part with its classic retro brown leather finish and metal-effect trim. As you can see in the product image above, it's compatible with accessories such as color gels for the built-in flash, plus lens attachments like Lomography's 'Splitzer' for creative multi-exposure effects, which by the way have more room to breathe on the wider Instax Wide film.

In addition to the multi-exposure effect (which works with or without lens attachments – see example below), there's semi-manual control over aperture and shutter speed (or 'advanced auto exposure'), which includes a long exposure bulb mode, while you can also manually adjust brightness using the ±1EV exposure compensation switch.

Elsewhere, there's zone focusing with a minimum 0.3m focus distance enabling you to capture little details. There's the option to attach an external flash, although the Wide Glass is equipped with a basic one already. Add a color gel to the flash and you can get creative with funky color effects. There's also a self timer and a tripod mount, making hands-free selfies and group shots possible.

As you can see, there's plenty of scope for creativity, and being the Wide Instax format, plenty of room to breathe in your shots. We're currently reviewing the Lomo Instant Wide Glass and will share our experiences with you really soon. The early signs are positive, Lomography could be onto a winner here.

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This nifty travel charger can power up your iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch from one outlet.

A number of popular Android and iOS mobile apps boasting millions of users carried a major vulnerability that could have been used to leak sensitive user data.

A report from cybersecurity researchers at Symantec found the problem is nothing more than software developers not paying enough attention at work.

The researchers discovered eight apps, on offer via Google Play and the App Store, that contained hardcoded, unencrypted credentials for cloud services. On these services, the apps stored sensitive user information, so, in theory, should a malicious actor obtain the binaries, or source codes, of any of these apps, they could easily exfiltrate people’s information and thus put them in harm’s way.

Thousands of compromised websites

On Android, the apps were The Pic Stitch (a collage-editing app for Android with more than five million users), Meru Cabs (a taxi-hailing app with more than five million users), Sulekha Business-List & grow (500K+ downloads), ReSound Tinnitus Relief (500,000 users), Saludsa (100,000+ users), Chola Ms Break In (100,000 users), EatSleepRIDE Motorcycle GPS (100,000 users), and Beltone Tinnitus Calmer (100,000 users).

Apple does not share iOS app download figures, however, there are app store ratings, which can be used to determine, at least in part, the number of downloads. Therefore, we have Crumbl (a desert-ordering app with 4.3 million ratings), Eureka (a survey app with more than 400,000 ratings), Videoshop (350K ratings), Solitaire Clash: Win Real Cash (240,000 ratings), and Zap Surveys - Earn Easy Money (235,000 ratings).

There is not much end-users can do here, since this is a problem with the app itself, and something the developers could have easily remedied. Still, Symantec recommends installing an antivirus program and only downloading apps from reputable sources (such as, ahem, Google Play Store, or the Apple Store).

Via The Register

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The niche coffee maker brews a great cup of coffee. But at this price, parts of the machine should be better quality.

Canva has launched a new text-to-image generator based on the Phoenix foundation model technology it acquired earlier in 2024 with the purchase of Leonardo.ai.

Canva claims the new Dream Lab tool can generate up to 15 different types of graphics, including 3D renders and illustrations, and can also reference other images to fine-tune outputs, making its outputs more reliable.

It’s also capable of generating multi-subject images and photorealistic portraits.

Canva Dream Lab

The unveiling of Dream Lab comes as Canva’s popularity continues to soar – it now boasts 200 million monthly users, marking a 130% year-over-year increase. The company’s annual revenue also recently hit $2.5 billion, which is coincidentally also the number of presentations that its users have made.

The announcement, detailing a number of product launches and enhancements, also sees the company boast about the 10 billion uses that its Canva AI tools have seen to date - a jump of three billion since the Leonardo.ai acquisition.

As part of its drive, Canva is also rolling out more than 40 new features across its Visual Suite, including updates to Canva Docs, enhanced video editing tools and the introduction of interactive features like polls, quizzes and dynamic charts.

Furthermore, recognizing its growing userbase in the UK, Canva has opened up two new buildings in Hoxton Square, London, tripling the size of its campus in the city.

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These simple tricks can help you boost your smartphone signal, no matter where you roam.

The iPhone 16's biggest new feature isn't worth upgrading for. But you still get much more for $800 than you would have two years ago.

Text prompts to PowerPoints, in minutes.

We take you through Microsoft's newly updated Copilot Pro AI interface for PCs and phones, and look to future of Copilot Vision.

What is a photo? It’s a question that's popping up with increasing regularity as technology moves further into a dystopian AI reality. From ‘deep fakes’ of celebrities to inserting a lion into a photo of your office, photo editing is evolving at a rapid rate that's making a lot of people, myself included, feel uneasy.

As Apple prepares to launch its suite of AI-powered tools, Apple Intelligence, which includes a new photo-editing feature called Clean Up that lets you remove objects from images, the differing approaches of tech companies are becoming clear. On one side, Google’s AI editing tools allow you to completely transform an image by adding lava lakes or transforming buildings into spaceships, while on the other there’s Apple’s more basic approach, which can… remove a water bottle.

Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, sat down with The Wall Street Journal to discuss Apple’s image software approach, and he summed up Apple's approach to AI thus: “We help purvey accurate information, not fantasy.”

In the interview, WSJ’s Joanna Stern demonstrates how Clean Up works, by removing an intrusive water bottle from the edge of an image. Federighi explains that “even the ability to remove that water bottle, there were lots of debates internally.

“Do we want to make it easy to remove that water bottle or that mic? Cause that water bottle was there when you took the photo. The demand for people who want to clean up what seemed like extraneous details to the photo that don’t fundamentally change the meaning of what happened has been very, very high. And so, you know, we were willing to take that small step.”

Federighi goes on to explain that Apple is constantly thinking about the impact these AI features can make on reality, and limits the extent to which users can alter images. "We are concerned that there's a great history to photography and how people view photographic content as something they can rely on is indicative of reality."

A different approach

Siri's new redesign in iOS 18.1 activated on an iPhone 16 Pro Max (Image credit: Apple)

One way the company does this is by including any edits to a photo with Apple Intelligence’s Clean Up in the Photos app metadata for that image. This is something I’ve talked about at length with an Android user colleague, as I wanted to know if this approach to understand whether or not a photo has been AI-altered is specific to Apple, or employed by Google and Samsung too. It turns out, Apple is one of the few smartphone companies taking this approach with Google opting for changes in the metadata on Pixels which isn’t as clear for end users – something I wish existed across all social media platforms and smartphone software as photo editing enters new murkier waters.

It’s not just photo editing where Apple has taken this thoughtful, if perhaps over-cautious approach. "When you look at experiences like Image Playground, we made sure that the images we were generating were not photorealistic,” Federighi said. “Not because the underlying model couldn't generate something photorealistic but because we never wanted someone to have any confusion of whether Joanna was really wearing that fuzzy hat?"

It’s an interesting insight into how Apple views AI-powered photo editing, and stands in stark contrast to Samsung’s claim that “There is no such thing as a real picture.” Many have questioned Apple’s approach to AI, with Apple Intelligence taking its sweet time to arrive on devices. Some feel that Apple is late to the party and playing catch-up, but time will tell if the company’s tailored approach goes down well with users, or if its limited AI tools don’t quite scratch the same itch as the mind-bending, reality-altering approach of others.

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If the recent Kindle announcements have interested you in getting a new ereader, but you think the Amazon brand options might be too big for you, then you might want to pay attention to the new smartphone-sized reading slate from Boox.

The Palma 2 is up for preorder right now at $279.99 (around £230 / AU$450), with a new and improved chipset and Android 13 support – a step up from its predecessor’s reliance on Android 11. It features a 6.3-inch 300ppi E Ink Carta 1200 screen, and is outfitted with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for downloading ebooks and Android apps.

We haven’t yet reviewed the Palma 2, but in our four-star Boox Palma review we praised its smartphone-lite features – including its ability to play music through speakers and its rear camera – while still remaining true to what an ereader is, all in a compact package.

To that end the Boox Palma 2 does seem to inherit what made the original special – an ereader complete with the mod cons of smartphones, like the new fingerprint scanner built into the power button, and flexible home-screen widgets.

Not a Kindle competitor

However, next to the new and cheaper $159.99 / £159.99 / AU$299 Kindle Paperwhite, or the equally pricey $279.99 / £269.99 Kindle Colorsoft (it's coming to Australia in 2025), Boox’s new product does feel a tad last-gen.

The E Ink display is a generation behind what those other new ereaders rely on, and Android 13 is two generations behind the current-gen Android 15. This leaves the Palma 2 feeling a bit like an old ereader and old smartphone bolted together.

That portability could be appealing, but TCL 50 Pro Nxtpaper 5G could be a better fit at roughly the same cost for your ereader-smartphone-hybrid needs at a similarly small size, and if size doesn’t matter one of the new larger Kindles could be a better choice overall.

We will have to test the Palma 2 out for ourselves before we deliver a final verdict, but our advice right now is think carefully about what you want from an ereader before rushing to get a preorder in.

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AMD’s new Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU is rumored to feature 16 RDNA 3.5 GPU cores and 8 Zen 5 CPU cores - ultimately leading to greater performance and battery life for gaming handheld devices. It will become the new flagship APU for AMD among the Strix Point APU range, with the potential of new handheld devices releasing from the likes of Asus, MSI, and perhaps even a next-gen Valve Steam Deck.

This is set to be a major improvement over AMD’s Z1 and Z1 Extreme chips, which are present in the Asus ROG Ally X and MSI Claw 8 AI+ handheld devices. There will be three variants on this occasion, unlike the aforementioned first-gen Z chips, with the new arrival being AMD’s Ryzen Z2G - which reportedly comes with 12 RDNA 2 cores.

Since the Asus ROG Ally Z1 model is certainly much less powerful than the Z1 Extreme and more comparable to the Steam Deck which you can read about in our review here, the presence of the Ryzen Z2G chip according to the rumored specs may be great news for consumers on a budget looking for greater performance.

What does this mean for new gaming handhelds?

While there is no confirmation of an Asus ROG Ally 2 (or any handheld packing these new Z2 chips) at this point in time, all signs point toward a successor to the latest and greatest handheld PC, the Ally X. With AMD supposedly set to release the Z2 APUs in 2025, the possibility of brand new handhelds is high.

The Ryzen Z2G APU is a surprising addition here, which means we may potentially be seeing three new Asus ROG Ally models. Not only could the pricing be much better here with three options, but the performance gain over the Z1 Ally will be clear to see, which only uses 4 RDNA 3 GPU cores.

If Valve’s Steam Deck successor is still a long way away, a new handheld from Asus or another company using the Ryzen Z2G APU will likely take a significant leap over the popular Linux-based handheld, utilizing 12 RDNA 2 cores compared to the Steam Deck’s 8.

Given the ROG Ally’s history of poor battery life before the release of the Ally X, this could work wonders for Asus’ next generation of handhelds, creating greater competition in pricing with the Steam Deck. After all, the Ally X is fantastic, but the price tag is still too steep for some potential buyers.

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WIRED’s AI Unlocked newsletter about using chatbots and other generative AI tools is back for a second season. We’ve incorporated reader feedback and answered your burning questions.

Dutch beverage company Heineken has entered the app market with The Boring Mode, a new app that lets users try out the dumbphone experience without committing to a new device.

The app blocks notifications, social media and other apps, and the camera for a set period of time with the aim of helping users enjoy real-life events.

Available for free on the App Store and Google Play Store, Heineken launched the app during a DJ performance by Scottish music producer Barry Can’t Swim at the Amsterdam Dance Event opening party, where infrared displays behind the decks displayed messages to catch out those filming the set and promote installing the app.

Heineken says it wants to “encourage people around the world to stay in the present and live their social lives to the fullest no matter where they are”, with The Boring Mode designed to push this ethos forwards.

The app is a spiritual successor to the company’s previous hardware collaboration with fashion brand Bodega and phone maker HMD, The Boring Phone, a limited-run flip phone with only essential functions.

Can you really simulate a dumbphone?

In recent years, phone makers have placed a renewed emphasis on digital balance – the process of finding a happy medium between the connection smart devices provide and becoming overwhelmed by on-screen activities.

While iPhones and Android phones come with a suite of software tools like app timers, reminders, and profile modes, there’s clearly some demand for something a bit more permanent.

HMD offers a wide range of feature phones and dumbphones, recently rebranded to focus on digital balance for younger users rather than their traditional portfolio as devices for older users (see the Barbie Phone).

With a hardware dumbphone, it’s often impossible to access social media or record high quality video, which naturally pushes users towards the real world – but we do need to be connected sometimes, which is something apps like The Boring Mode try to solve.

However, while a reminder to get back to the real world can be nice, the option to switch off software tools and apps like The Boring Mode brings the issue back to the user, and how long one can resist the temptation to turn off anti-social media measures. The Boring Mode also asks for a lot of permissions, which may turn away those who prefer unintrusive apps.

That said, software tools remain a good first step for those daunted by the prospect of not having a highly connected device in-hand – for the latest digital balance developments, be sure to keep up with our phones coverage.

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It’s a little embarrassing for me to admit that I never finished the critically acclaimed Netflix anthology series Beef, which was one of our 34 best shows of 2023, but now that we have news of what to expect from Beef season two I’m prepared to be roped back in. With creator Lee Sung Jin returning as showrunner alongside executive producers Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, who starred in the first season, Beef’s second installment will feature a brand new cast and, more importantly, another drama-riddled incident.

A few months back, rumors that Netflix was eyeing up Oscar Isaac (Dune, Ex Machina) and Carey Mulligan (Maestro, Promising Young Woman) to be the feuding pair in Beef season 2 surfaced, and it’s been confirmed that the two will in fact be leading the cast for the show’s next installment. Joining them will be Charles Melton (May December) and Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla, Civil War), who will also have their share of the beef in the next season of the A24-produced show on one of the best streaming services.

How will Beef season 2 follow its very successful first season (trailer below) you ask? Despite leaving out details of an official release date, Netflix has given us a taste of how season 2 will play out. Spanning over eight 30-minute episodes, the next season is set in the backdrop of an elitist country club owned by a Korean billionaire where “a young couple witnesses an alarming fight between their boss and his wife, triggering chess moves of favors and coercion,” Netflix revealed.

The first season of Beef followed characters Danny Cho (Yeun) and Amy Lau (Ali Wong) whose tension rose following a road rage incident that escalates into a feud where neither of them express the desire to back down. Show creator Lee Sung Jin came up with the idea for the plot following his own experiences with a road rage incident, which he shared during the South by Southwest Festival at the time of the show’s season one launch: “It honked at me, cursed at me and drove away.”

Netflix, you had me at Carey Mulligan

I’ve recently voiced my feelings on the best Netflix shows and how I’ve felt rather let down when I think I’ve found the one for me, only for it to be canceled after one season. So when I discovered recently that two of Netflix’s biggest shows had been renewed, it started to restore my faith.

Despite never completing the first season of Beef, that doesn’t mean I haven’t recognized its successful run with audiences (the Emmys speak for themselves). And with Carey Mulligan’s name among the cast alone, I feel my conscience bias kicking in as I was a big fan of her performance in Maestro (2023) and of course not forgetting her small, but humorous role in Saltburn (2023).

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This same-day focaccia recipe requires very little hands-on work and comes together in just a few hours.

Half of all employees admit to using shadow AI, the name given to unsanctioned artificial intelligence tools that have not been issued by their companies, new research has claimed.

Three-quarters of the workers surveyed by Software AG stated they use AI tools at work, with two-thirds (or 50% of all respondents) even bringing their own AI solutions into the office.

Furthermore, nearly as many (46%) said they would refuse to give up these tools, even if their organization banned them outright.

Workers admit to using shadow AI

Workers are broadly on board with artificial intelligence, with many pointing out their potential to save them time (83%), make their jobs easier (81%) and enhance productivity (71%). However, using unsanctioned AI can pose significant risks to a company’s security and integrity.

“As usage increases, so does the risk of cyber attacks, data leakage or regulatory non-compliance. Consequently, business leaders need to have a plan in place for this before it’s too late," noted Software AG director Steve Ponting.

Despite awareness of the dangers, many employees still fail to take adequate steps to protect themselves and their employers, with only one-quarter (27%) running security scans on their AI tools and 29% checking data usage policies.

Like many others, this report highlights a disconnect between workers and business leaders, with one in three employees citing the unavailability of essential AI tools from their employer.

Looking ahead, the company predicts that 90% of workers will use AI in the near future, up from the current 75%. With this in mind, businesses are being urged to implement the right tools and processes to protect their companies while giving workers access to the tools they require.

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These earplugs let you fine-tune your noise reduction—within reason.